What Golfers Are Saying

Location is worth the drivein the 'burbsconvenient to the cityGreat for localsadvanced golfersa weekend splurgeChallenges include bunkerselevation changesundulating greensGreat for drinkspatio diningbrunch

"Good value outside Orlando"

"Good value outside Orlando"

Previously playedUsed cartHot weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 08/14/2017

Black Bear always makes an enjoyable round. The course requires thinking before your shot and requires accuracy to avoid the penalty areas. I play here 6-8 times per year. It is one of my favorite Orlando area courses.

Pace of Play:
Excellent

Course Layout:
Excellent

Course Conditions:
Good

Staff Friendliness:
Good

Value for the Money:
Good

Off-Course Amenities:
Good

Course Difficulty: Somewhat Challenging

I recommend this course

FEATURED REVIEW

"A good course"

"A good course"

Previously playedUsed cartHot weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 08/05/2017

This is a good course to play. There are a few green's that need some work, but overall the course is in good shape. This course as well as others seem to making the green smaller. I assume it is a cost factor.

Pace of Play:
Good

Course Layout:
Good

Course Conditions:
Good

Staff Friendliness:
Excellent

Value for the Money:
Good

Off-Course Amenities:
Good

Course Difficulty: Moderate

I recommend this course

FEATURED REVIEW

"Florida ain't flat!"

"Florida ain't flat!"

First time playingUsed cartHot weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 07/28/2017

Very undulating, lots of sand, huge greens that roll true lush fairways, knee high rough in places and a brute of a finishing hole. A lot of local knowledge here as greens will narrow to as small as four paces across making for sucker pin placements. Friendly staff, very good practice areas. Well worth it, I'll be going back.

"One of my Favorites"

"One of my Favorites"

Previously playedUsed cartHot weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 07/31/2017

Black Bear has been my favorite course in the North Orlando area for some time. It has challenges that either reward you or penalize you based on your shot making ability. The greens are usually very consistent and fairways nice. The staff is courteous. I always enjoy playing here and don't mind the extra drive from Oviedo.

We were able to play 36 holes and average around 3:30 for each round. The pace of play was fantastic. It was quite warm, the stiff breeze definitely helped to make the round more bearable. The greens were punched in the past week or two, so that made putting difficult. Once the greens come back in, they will be great. Given the drought, the course was in great shape! The staff was very nice and helpful. Highly recommend checking this track out!

Pace of Play:
Excellent

Course Layout:
Excellent

Course Conditions:
Excellent

Staff Friendliness:
Excellent

Value for the Money:
Excellent

Off-Course Amenities:
Excellent

Course Difficulty: Moderate

I recommend this course

FEATURED REVIEW

"Just not our sort of course."

"Just not our sort of course."

Reviewed on 06/02/2017

Played recently with my wife and another couple of senior friends, on vacation in The area. The day didn't start well. Having driven for over an hour, we were told on checking in that the back nine was closed and that we would have to play the front nine twice. This information should have been given on the phone in the morning as we booked. The front nine is basically a spit on your hands and smash it as hard as you can nine. Not our type of course at all. A week later I can't clearly remember one hole. We gave up after 9 holes. The half that we played was certainly in nice condition. It is what it is. Just not our type of course.

I am sorry you experienced this on your visit. Unfortunately if we had known that 9 holes would be closed all day we would have been able to warn about it. However due to circumstances beyond our control we had to make due with only 9 holes being playable. The Back nine does have some more memorable holes on it. Please come back and play the back 9 if you are in the area again. Thank you.

FEATURED REVIEW

"Nice layout"

"Nice layout"

Previously playedVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 05/29/2017

Nice layout with hills....not your typical flat Florida course. The rough was over grown and needed to be mowed so it WA tough hitting out of it. Would definitely recommend the course though. Played there a few times and will go back.

"Malicious golfers"

"Malicious golfers"

Previously playedUsed cartWindy weather

Reviewed on 05/23/2017

My brother and I played this course yesterday morning. We started out around 0725 and was doing well until we reached the 8th hole. There was a group of five golfers in front of us. We had to wait until they were out of range before we teed off. Once we finished the 8th hole we moved over to the 9th hole, again we had to wait for the fivesome in front of us to get out of range. We thought surely when we got to the 10th tee box they would allow us to pass through. Again, wee waited and waited - due to at least two of the golfers hit their balls about 10 feet in front of tee box. One of the guys was up on a hill looking for his ball. i told my brother this is ridiculous and we were going to go through them which we did. I called the Pro shop to report the incident and was told by Mr Hodges that they would let us through on a par 3....How ridiculous is that. In all my days of playing golf I never had to wait for a fivesome to get to a par 3 before being allowed to pass through. While on the 9th hole they yelled across to three other golfers coming up on the 8th hole, "are we holding you up - call the Pro shop.: My brother and I took that to be directed at us. Absolutely no courtesy was shown toward us, nor did the Pro shop intervene as they should have. I understand these guys to be members, but that doesn't give them the right to slow play and hold up a twosome behind them. They were malicious in their attitudes by what they said and discourteous to my brother and I. I believe if we had been White, we would have been extended the courtesy to play through. I will never play this course again, nor would I recommend this course to anyone. I have brought a group of guys from Tampa (were I live) to this course on more than one occasion. I feel that Mr Hodges (Pro shop) wasn't interested in our complaint nor did he care. What a shame!

Not sure why my previous comment did not show up. But I wanted to make sure you understood when the group on 9 green yelled about holding people up, they were talking to the guys on the 8th tee box who they have a little rivalry with about who tees off first in the morning. They had no idea where you were in the 9th fairway you could hear them. (although he is louder than he knows) Sorry you felt that you were targeted but I assure you, you were not.

Anonymous

Commented on 05/24/2017

We here at Black Bear pride our self on customer service, and it is unfortunate you had an unpleasant experience. I have looked into what actually happened and the five some that played in front of you played in less than 4 hrs and obviously you being a two some are going to play much faster, but our pace of play is schedule for 4 hrs and 15 min. and you played within that time frame. The obvious issue is the five some should of let you play through sooner....and I have address it with our members and they have assured me they will accommodate faster players in the future. So my apologize and we hope you will return and have a better experience.

Butch Benton

Director of Golf/Operations

FEATURED REVIEW

"The Bear usually wins"

"The Bear usually wins"

Previously playedUsed cartHot weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 05/22/2017

Course was not busy at all for a hot Saturday afternoon...foursome finished play in less than 4 hours...fairways had plenty of grass...greens were well manicured and quick..many hills in fairways...lots of slope on many greens....hit in the right spot and birdies are available....miss it in the wrong spot like one of the numerous bunkers and you can quickly put up a crooked number...super nice staff...look forward to next time

"Good work out!"

"Good work out!"

First time playingUsed cartPerfect weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 04/29/2017

Prepare to walk a lot or channel your inner mountain goat. Lots of undulating fairways and tough walking from cart path to greens. Great chance to hit the long ball, but not a lot of variety and very little shade.

"Great course, very difficult for first timers"

"Great course, very difficult for first timers"

First time playingUsed cartPerfect weatherVerified Purchaser

Reviewed on 04/24/2017

This course is extremely challenging when playing for the first time. Course knowledge is very beneficial because so many holes have blind fairways. Several times I hit "perfect" drives only to end up in a ditch or have a very awkward lie thanks to a hill. Misses around the green can be very punishing. The course is in great condition though. Amenities are nice.